[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

"No. And that is not the point."

It is the point. The Chinese can threaten to nuke Los Angeles over Taiwan.

"In my estimation, China is banking on the idea that America will not support defending Taiwan and will invade, threatening with nuclear war all the while."

OK.

So what if Taiwan threatens a nuclear strike on Beijing?

Or what if the US President decides to raise the ante?

What if the US President thinks "Screw it, they didn't vote for me anyway" and calls their bluff?

If that happens, it comes down to warhead counts--and that means we would have what's known as "escalation dominance." China can threaten to launch nuclear missiles at US cities--we can destroy China's leadership "en passant" ("in passing"), as they say in chess.

"The issue is not what you would do, or what I would do, or what any rational person would do."

The Chinese are very rational, no matter what you think.

"It is, what will CHINA do? And I repeat, anybody who dismisses this is a fool."

In strategy, it is wise to consider the worst consequences of one's potential course of action.

What is the worst consequence China can inflict on the US? What is the worst consequence the US can inflict on China's leadership?

[azhenfud]

Do you know where the first Chinese Officer who openly threatened to nuke LA is today?

I'll tell you this - he has absolutely NO authority left to make good on his "threat".

Responsible governments - of ANY denomination - do not accept irresponsible declarations very lightly.

Any "officials" who subsequently follow suit will - follow suit. I would hope America's leadership levies the same scrutiny among ourselves.

[SerpentDove]

So how do we disagree? I never said the Chinese would nuke us.

I just said that whoever automatically dismisses the threats originating from China is a fool. And I stand by it.